Roller



Aug. 15, 1933. R. R. WARE 1,922,609

ROLLER Filed July l1, 1932 Patented -Aug. '15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE f ROLLER Robert R. Ware, Chicago, Iii.. Chicago Roller Skate Company,

assigner to Chicago. Ill.,

My invention relates generally to rollers and particularly to rollers adapted for use in roller skates.

. The present invention relates to a roller con n struction oi' the general type shown in my Patent No. 1,790,293 and particularly to the struc-l ture shown ln Figure i ci said patent. iilxperin ence has shown that when a roller construction of the type shown in said patent is subjected to lo actual use in a roller slrate, there is a tendency ior the annular margins oi the roller tread mem ber to shift axially. In other words, the action ci' a sidewalk on the outer steel tread of the roller causes a peening or deformation oi' the metal lo which. results in a lateral or axial spreading.

There is no harm in this spreading or peenlng action along the margin of the roller positioned at the outside of the skate, but when this action occurs at the inner margin, the metal eventually contacts with or scrapes the side of the skate truck, thereby impairing the free rotation of the roller.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to overcome the above mentioned and other diillculties which have heretofore been experienced and to this end l propose to provide means whereby the outer margin of the tread of a roller is secured against axial displacement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a roller of the type mentioned above which has increased wearing qualities and to this end I propose to so construct the roller that when the outer tread thereof has completely worn away considere able wear may still be had through the agency of a secondary tread which forms the support for the outer tread.

Still more specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a simple and economical roller structure in which an outer tread member is supported by inner tread ilanges, and one margin of the outer tread is positively secured against lateral movement with respect to one of said flanges.

Another object of my invention is to provide a 45 roller construction as above set forth which is particularly adaptable for use in connection with rollers adapted to retain ball-bearing equipment between symmetrically formed side plates which encircle a hub supporting said ball-bearing equip- 50 ment.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,

55 wherein- Figure l is an elevational view. the lower portion of which is broken away. oi s roller which is representative of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view oi' the roller @s as seen irom the leit oi Figure l;

' Figure s is a view similar to Figure l disclos ing the structure ci the roller winch remains when the outer tread member has heen worn IRWM'; @5

Figure t is a view similar to Figure l oi a modified roller structure:

Figure t is a view oi the lower portion oi the roller of lligure il aiter the outer tread member or section has worn away; and fio Figure il is another modlhed roller construction. Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various Figures, it will be seen that the embodiment of my 'it invention disclosed in Figures l and 2 and a portion oi which is disclosed in Figure 2, comprises a roller designated generally by the numeral lo. This roller includes a central hub l2 which supports ball-bearing equipment or rollers 14 an- 80 nularly disposed about the central periphery oi' said hub. A pair of symmetrical side plates i6 are formed arcuately at their inner margins to provide a bearing retainer or bushing section 18, and at their outer sections are formed with flanges 20 which may also be referred to as inner tread sections. The sections of the side plates 16 extending between the sections 20 and the retainer or bushing 18 provides a web 22 and these web sections are juxtapositioned and secured together 00 in any suitable manner as by means of rivets 24 or by spot-welding.

The flanges or inner tread sections 20 provide a support for an`outer tread section or member 26 and this member 26 includes a central body 95 portion 28 which traverses the flanges 20. One margin 30 of the tread section 26 is bent around its companion flange so as to provide an inner support therefor, and terminates short of the web 22. The opposite margin 32 of the tread member 100 26 not only extends beneath and forms a support for its companion tread member 20, but' is provided with an inturned section 34 which is clamped against the outer surface of the companion web 22 through the agency of the rivets 24. 105

When these rollers are mounted upon the trucks of a skate, the margins 32 are positioned inwardly adjacent the skate truck. Experience has shown that unless some means, such as the section 34 riveted to the web 22 is provided to secure the 110 margin 32 against axial or lateral displacement with respect to its companion flange 20, said mar.- gin will experience axial displacement when the roller is subjected to actual use on a pavement or sidewalk. In other words, the wear on the tread section 26 has a tendency to cause the marglns 30 and 32 to spread axially or outwardly. The outward displacement experienced by the margin 30 causes no harm and does not effect the operativeness or usefulness of the skate, but should the margin 32 positioned at the inner side adjacent the skate truck shift axially away from its companion flange, interference with said truck is encountered. For this reason I provide means such as the rivets 24 and inturned section 34 for securing the inner margin 32 against axial displacement.

When the body portion 28 of the outer tread section 26 becomes worn to the point where it exposes the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 20, the structure or roller will appear as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen that the flanges 20 now partake of outer tread members and that the remaining portion of the tread margin 32 still remains in position adjacent its companion ange and in fact cooperates to provide additional tread width. From the foregoing it will be apparent that I provide a roller structure which makes for increased wearing life and in fact I provide a construction which might bey referred to as a tread within a tread. That is to say, the flanges 20 and the adjacent portion of the tread margin 32 serve as tread sections after the body 28 of the outer tread member 26 has worn away. Furthermore, when the outer tread member does wear away, there is no possibility of the outer margin 30 interfering with the remaining portion of the roller structure. When the tread body 28 wears away, the outer margin 30 simply falls away from its companion flange.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a slightly modified structure. The roller is similar in all respects to the roller shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive with the exception that the inner tread margin 32, while it extends beneath its companion flange 20 a sufficient distance to provide a support therefor, turns inwardly so as to provide a section 349L which is spaced from the web 22 and which is provided with an annular axially extending section 34h. This section 34D makes an edge abutment with its companion web and is rigidly secured in abutting relation through the agency of a rivet 24S. I have shown the structure of Figures 4 and 5 in order to indicate that my invention is not limited to the specific intumed margin construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, but contemplates other constructions which will serve to the end of securing the inner tread margin 32 against axial displacement when the outer tread section experiences wear. It will be seen in Figure 5 that after the tread section 26 of Figure 4 wears away, a roller structure remains which is capable of considerable continued use.

Referring to Figure 6 it will be seen that I have provided a roller which is quite similar to that disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the only difference being that both margins of the outer tread section are formed symmetrically. In this figure I have designated the outer tread section as 26b and the margins thereof as 30h and 32h. With this construction the wheel is symmetrical in all respects and therefore either side may be positioned inwardly when assembled upon the truck of a skate. Furthermore, when the body portion of the tread member 26b wears away, the flanges 20 are not only exposed and adapted for continued use but are both supported from beneath by the remaining portions of the tread margins 30h and 32h.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention contemplates the provision of an improved roller construction which is particularly adaptable for use with roller skates. Not only is the length of the ruiming life of the roller greatly increased due to the double tread arrangement, but said roller is rendered more rigid. Also, the margin of the outer tread member adjacent the skate truck is positively prevented from shifting axially so as to scrape or interfere with said truck. The roller presents a very practical construction both from the standpoint of manufacture and use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roller for skates including a hub, a pair of side plates, a peripheral tread supporting section, a ground engaging tread section supported along the outer periphery of the tread supporting section, said tread section having a portion thereof extending over a part of the supporting section,

a vertical extension on said portion and engaging a side of one of said plates, and means connecting said extension to said plates.

2. A roller for skates including a hub, a pair of side plates encircling said hub, said side plates being provided at their outer extremities with lateral flanges, a ground engaging tread section extending over and beyond the side of at least one of said flanges,'and means for securing the sec--l tion of the tread extending over the side of said flange to the side of said plate whereby to secure said section against axial displacement, said means consisting of a vertically extending fiange on the tread section abutting a vertical portion oilone side plate, and rivet means securing the said last named flange and said side plates.

3. A roller for skates including a hub, a pair of side plates, a peripheral tread supporting section', a ground engaging tread section supported along the outer periphery of the tread supporting section, said tread section having its free ends folded over into engagement with the inner surface of the supporting section, integral vertical extensions on the free ends of the tread section and engaging the outer surfaces of said plates, and fastening means passing through both of said extensions and both of said plates for locking the parts together.

4. A roller for skates comprising a hub, a pair of side plates, flanges on said side plates, a ground engaging member overlying both flanges and including a vertical extension engaging a side plate and one of said flanges, and fastening means passing through the extension and the plates to fasten the members together.

y ROBERT R. WARE. 

